Classroom Resources

The World Wide Web is built on the foundation of simply linking pages to other pages with hyperlinks, but it is this massive interconnectedness that makes it so powerful. But before the web could become a thing, Tim Berners-Lee would need to invent the web browser at CERN, and search engines would need to be created to navigate these massive directories of information.

In this video excerpt from NOVA scienceNOW, explore how advances in information technology are making cars increasingly susceptible to cyber attacks. Modern cars are highly dependent on computers to control many features including lights, braking, steering, door locks, and GPS. A team of security experts demonstrates how it is possible to hack into a car and gain control of it from a remote location by taking advantage of its built-in cell phone system. This video comes with discussion questions. 

Learn how encryption keeps online information private in this video from the NOVA Cybersecurity Lab. Your messages are coded by email programs and websites to prevent others from reading them. Codes have been used in messages for centuries.  Caesar sent coded messages to his military in ancient Rome. In the 1940s, the Allied forces cracked the German Enigma Code, saving lives during World War II. Today, emails are protected through public-key cryptography, which uses numbers from both the sending and receiving email servers to create a key. However, not all online activity is encrypted and, in some cases, your browsing history, text messages, and data from apps can be intercepted. This video comes with discussion questions.

In this media-rich lesson plan, students explore how to keep their digital lives safe, spot cyber scams, and learn the basics of coding from NOVA Labs. The lesson begins with students watching the Cybersecurity 101 video and discussing the online safety measures that they currently take. Next, students make predictions about online safety best practices, complete the Level 1 challenges of the NOVA Cybersecurity Lab, and compare the best practices from the game with their predictions. Students reconvene for direct instruction on the best practices and key computer science terms and then finish the Cybersecurity Lab game. Finally, students complete the video quizzes with short-response discussion questions and can work on the Cybersecurity stories as homework reading assignments.

In this video excerpted from Pathways to Technology, you'll learn about the wide range of jobs that an information technology (IT) degree can make possible. From PCs to smartphones to cars, almost every tool we use today has computer technology embedded in it. The IT specialist is the person who keeps those computers operating and finds ways to make them run faster and more smoothly, so we can all get our work done. This video has discussion questions. 

Even though we think of computers as super high-tech machines with tiny parts, they can also be huge, wooden, and mechanical. It's what they have in common that makes them computers - switches!

Learn how game developers are shaping the future of video games in this video from SciTech Now. Fifty-nine percent of Americans play video games, which leads many people to believe that games are becoming just as important culturally as television and movies. The Game Innovation Lab at NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering is dedicated to exploring new ideas in video games. Students and faculty there blend computer science, art, math, education, and design to create innovative games. This video comes with discussion questions. 

Learn about the exciting opportunities for and vital roles played by Cyber Security Analysts in the growing field of Cyber Security. Watch this Science Matters video to learn what it means to be a Cyber Security Analyst and see if this job could be the right fit for you.

Worms. Trojan Horses. Hackers and Clouds. It is not what’s happening in the movies, but what’s happening in cyberspace- that area that connects all of us and our computers to the internet and each other. Cyber Security is important to all of us and it's a HOT JOB of the future. This video comes with discussion questions. 

Researchers in the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory working on emerging technology to engineer smarter robots. They are now building a machine that interacts socially with people in this video segment adapted from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This video comes with discussion questions. 

A team from the Mechanical Engineering Department studies snail movement for inspiration that may lead to new emerging technologies of robotic locomotion in this video segment adapted from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the field of robotic locomotion, designers are finding the study of animal and insect movement an exciting area of research. Inspired by nature, these designers are creating robots that are extremely nimble and capable of moving over a variety of surfaces, such as rough terrain, steep inclines, and even vertical walls. This video comes with discussion questions.

Manuela Veloso is an artificial intelligence (AI) researcher from Carnegie Mellon University who programs small robot dogs to play soccer. Her primary goal is to increase the learning abilities of her robots. This video can be played for students as an introduction to a lesson on artificial intelligence.

This high school lesson provides an opportunity for students to learn more about and reflect upon athletes who have taken stands on political issues.

This DragonflyTV segment introduces robotics engineer Dr. Una-May O'Reilly, who designs robots with the ability to function without the help of humans. Her work on artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually give human faces and personalities to robots. This video can be played as an introduction to a lesson on artificial intelligence.

This DragonflyTV segment introduces NASA roboticist Dr. Ayanna Howard. Her job is to use artificial intelligence (AI) to build robots that can travel into space and other hazardous locations. In this segment, she discusses her work on a rover for use on Mars. Also available in Spanish. This video can be played as an introduction to a lesson on artificial intelligence.

Athletes' behavior gives rise to important questions: How should athletes, who are often in the public eye, be expected to act? Why do athletes sometimes behave as if they are above the law? What drives their behavior? How does the legal system treat athletes who get in trouble? If standards of character for athletes were established, what would they be? This activity will discuss the answers to these questions. 

Video games are fun to play, but have you ever wondered how to make one? Carmelo, a grad student in the MIT Media Lab, shows how anyone can start learning how to create video games by talking to machines through programming languages using block-based programming. This video can be played to introduce a lesson on computer programming.

This resource is a document of the rules of the game table tennis. It is useful for students just starting to play the game. Also, it is adaptable as a task card for each table when introducing the game.

In this lesson, students (K-3) will be introduced to the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app by creating interactive characters that respond to tap. Through this process, they will learn about movement blocks, looks blocks, the ‘start on tap’ trigger, and character selection.

PBS KIDS Scratch Jr. app is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablets.

In this activity, students (K-3) will be introduced to the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app by animating characters from their favorite PBS KIDS shows. Through this process, they will learn about movement blocks, the ‘start on flag’ trigger, and character selection.

PBS KIDS ScratchJr app is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablets.

Peg and Cat have a really big problem! Cat is stuck in a tree. Again! In this activity, children will be challenged to create projects with the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app where they help Peg rescue her friend Cat.

Children will learn how to create projects, add characters, and how to use the programming blocks to make their characters animate on screen. They will explore coding and computational thinking practices as they utilize technology as a tool for creativity, expression, and learning with the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app.

Tally Ho! Inspired by NATURE CAT, in this activity children will explore cause and effect relationships and what plants need to grow and thrive. Children will be challenged to create projects in PBS KIDS ScratchJr where they make their own plants and trees grow.

Children will learn how to use the PBS KIDS ScratchJr programming blocks to make animated stories and interactive projects. They will explore coding and computational thinking practices as they utilize technology as a tool for creativity, expression and learning with the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app.

Activate Creature Powers! Inspired by the WILD KRATTS, in this activity children will be challenged to create PBS KIDS ScratchJr projects that explore different animals and their unique behaviors and traits.

Children will learn how to create projects, add characters, and how to use the programming blocks to make their characters animate and move on the screen. They will explore coding and computational thinking practices as they utilize technology as a tool for creativity, expression, and learning with the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app.

Excelsior! Inspired by READY JET GO!, in this activity, children will be challenged to use PBS KIDS ScratchJr to create projects where they blast off and explore our solar system.

Children will learn how to use the PBS KIDS ScratchJr programming blocks to make animated stories and interactive projects. They will explore coding and computational thinking practices as they utilize technology as a tool for creativity, expression, and learning with the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app.

This video explores our definition of coding and what it looks like to code with PBS KIDS ScratchJr. This video will explain coding to help get students ready for block-based coding. 

PBS KIDS Scratch Jr. app is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablets.

Word up! In this activity, children will explore decision-making as they use PBS KIDS ScratchJr to help WordGirl make a tough choice between saving the day and going to her friend’s birthday party.

Children will learn how to use the PBS KIDS ScratchJr programming blocks to make animated stories and interactive projects. They will explore coding and computational thinking practices as they utilize technology as a tool for creativity, expression, and learning with the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app.

Print this PBS KIDS ScratchJr Cootie Catcher and have fun practicing sequence blocks with your favorite PBS KIDS characters! This will give additional practice for block coding. 

PBS KIDS ScratchJr app is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablets.

Use the PBS KIDS ScratchJr Cheat Sheet as a quick guide for various programming blocks. 

PBS KIDS ScratchJr app is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablets.

Print and shuffle the following block slides to play the PBS KIDS ScratchJr Block version of Simon Says.

PBS KIDS ScratchJr app is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablets.

Print this Human-Robot Activity Handout and guide the students in a game of Human-Robot where they use the cuttable blocks to program each other to act out different sequences.

PBS KIDS ScratchJr app is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablets.

These How-To Cards introduce multiple pathways and features to help children get started using the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app for block programming. Print, cut, glue, and make them available for children to reference as they work with the app.

PBS KIDS ScratchJr app is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablets.

Print this PBS KIDS ScratchJr Story Cubes and let the cubes decide which backgrounds and PBS KIDS characters to use! This will help students get ready for block programming. 

PBS KIDS ScratchJr app is now available for free from the App Store on IPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablet.

This resource can be used during a lesson on constructing elements of a simple computer program.

Hear advice on internet privacy from the much-loved character Ruff Ruffman, in this animated video from RUFF RUFFMAN: HUMBLE MEDIA GENIUS. With his uniquely comical style, Ruff helps students acquire some key twenty-first-century skills. This resource is part of the RUFF RUFFMAN: HUMBLE MEDIA GENIUS Collection. This video can be played during a lesson on identifying and demonstrating personal safety use of digital devices.

Hear advice on how to use search engines responsibly from the much-loved character Ruff Ruffman, in this animated video from RUFF RUFFMAN: HUMBLE MEDIA GENIUS. With his uniquely comical style, Ruff helps guide students in responsibly navigating this twenty-first-century skill. This resource is part of the RUFF RUFFMAN: HUMBLE MEDIA GENIUS Collection. This video can be played during or to introduce a lesson on basic keyword searches to gather information.

Focusing on texting, the much-loved character Ruff Ruffman addresses some of the questions kids have about responsible use of technology and media use, in this animated video from RUFF RUFFMAN: HUMBLE MEDIA GENIUS. With his uniquely comical style, Ruff helps guide students in responsibly navigating this twenty-first-century skill. This resource is part of the RUFF RUFFMAN: HUMBLE MEDIA GENIUS Collection. This video can be played when introducing a lesson on how to identify, demonstrate, and apply personal safe use of digital devices.

Focusing on searching safely on the internet, the much-loved character Ruff Ruffman addresses some of the questions kids have about technology and media use, in this animated video from RUFF RUFFMAN: HUMBLE MEDIA GENIUS. With his uniquely comical style, Ruff helps guide students in responsibly navigating this twenty-first-century skill. This resource is part of the RUFF RUFFMAN: HUMBLE MEDIA GENIUS Collection. This video can be played when introducing a lesson on basic keyword searches to gather information.